The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Lost Witch
Paige Crutcher
Griffin
c/o St. Martin's Press
https://us.macmillan.com/smp
9781250797391, $16.99, PB, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Witch-Paige-Crutcher/dp/125079739X

Synopsis: 1922. The town of Evermore off the coast of Ireland is under the = protection of a Goddess. She has bestowed power upon village healer Brigid = Heron to ensure the heart of magic within the Lough of Briongloid (the lake=
of dreams) remains untouched. For the witches of Knight want to absorb its=
powerful energies and release the Damned from the Otherworld. Brigid has d= evoted her whole life to being Evermore's guardian, immersing herself in wi= tchcraft, and sacrificing her own dreams. Until Luc Knightly, a trickster g=
od with his own claim on the lough, offers Brigid her heart's desire in exc= hange for betraying her Goddess's trust.

2022. A century later, Evermore is under siege. The witches of Knight wield=
chaos magic, opening the rift between the island and the Otherworld wider = every day. Beings born from folklore nightmares prey on the villagers, cons= uming their very humanity. Ophelia Gallagher, Brigid's descendent, and her = fellow witch Finola McEntire do their best to keep the monsters and mayhem =
at bay.

Brigid awakens in this world with no memory of how she traveled into the fu= ture, and why Evermore has been cursed. To seal the lough and stop the witc= hes of Knight, she must work with Ophelia and Finola to help her remember t=
he events of a hundred years ago. But the knowledge she seeks lies with Luc=
Knightly himself (mysterious, handsome, and powerful) and the one who once=
upon a time granted Brigid her dearest wish -- a daughter. But to save Eve= rmore, Brigid may have to lose her daughter -- again and forever!

Critique: An impressively crafted and original novel of fantasy, "The Lost = Witch" by Paige Crutcher showcases the author's genuine flair for the kind =
of narrative driven storytelling that provides the reader with compulsive p= age turner of a story from beginning to end. While very highly recommended = for community library Fantasy Fiction collections, it should be noted for p= ersonal reading lists that "The Lost Witch" is also available in a digital = book format (Kindle, $10.99).

Editorial Note: Paige Crutcher (https://paigecrutcher.com) is a former Sout= hern Correspondent for Publishers Weekly, an artist and yogi, and co-owner =
of the online marketing company Hatchery.

The Tower of Nerek: A Descent
David Guymer
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
c/o Simon & Schuster (distribution)
https://www.simonandschuster.com
9781839081743, $16.95, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Tower-Nerek-Descent-Legends-Novel/dp/1839081740

Synopsis: Nerekhall: a city of paranoia and fear, where the harsh and unben= ding rule of law is enforced by unfeeling automata called the Ironbound. Dr= awn to the city by recurring nightmares, Andira Runehand and her companion,=
Trenloe the Strong, soon find themselves caught up in a sinister plot and = unable to escape. Both have different ideas about what it means to be a her=
o, and both must learn to trust the other. For in secret, an uneasy allianc=
e concocts a dark plan in the city's infamous tower to open a portal and su= mmon a demonic power, the likes of which has never set foot in Terrinoth.

Critique: The newest title in author David Guymer's simply outstanding 'Leg= ends of the Dark' Sword & Sorcery series, "The Tower of Nerek: A Descent" h=
as everything S&S fans have come to expect in a fantasy action/adventure no= vel -- originality, memorable characters, and a deftly crafted plot replete=
with many an unexpected twist, turn and trauma. Based on the game world of=
'Descent: Legends of the Dark', "The Tower of Nerek: A Sescent" is an espe= cially recommended addition to personal reading lists and community library=
Science Fiction & Fantasy collections. It should be noted that "The Tower =
of Nerek: A Descent" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9= ..95).

Editorial Note: David Guymer (https://aconytebooks.com/?authors=3Ddavid-guy= mer) is a scientist-turned science fiction and fantasy author from the nort=
h of England. His work includes many novels in the Warhammer, Warhammer 40,= 000, and Marvel universes, notably Dark Avengers: The Patriot List, the bes= tselling audio production Realmslayer, and Hamilcar: Champion of the Gods, = which has since been adapted into an animated TV series. He has also contri= buted to fantastical worlds in video games, tabletop RPGs, and board games.

Lair of the Crystal Fang
S. A. Sidor
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
c/o Simon & Schuster (distribution)
https://www.simonandschuster.com
9781839081880, $16.95, PB, 368pp

https://www.amazon.com/Lair-Crystal-Fang-Arkham-Horror/dp/1839081880

Synopsis: In the swirling sewers beneath Arkham, excavators uncover a cryst= alline formation that hints at dark events from the city's past. As the dis= covery makes headlines, so too does a series of bizarre murders. With no le= ads, the Arkham police are always one step behind.

Acting on a hunch, down-on-his luck former journalist Andy Van Nortwick reu= nites with adventurer Jake Williams and struggling filmmaker Maude Brion to=
unearth the truth. The trio know of the supernatural horrors that lurk bey= ond this world, and the reality haunts them. But time is running out and be= tween them they must face their nightmares before the city of Arkham is los=
t to blood and chaos.

Critique: "Lair of the Crystal Fang" is part of fantasy horror novelist S. =
A. Sidor's 'Arkham Horror' series and one of those read-with-the-lights-on = thrillers and an homage to the Golden Age of Pulp Fiction magazines. A fun = read for all dedicated horror fantasy fans, "Lair of the Crystal Fang" is h= ighly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Horry Fa= ntasy and Historical Mystery collections. It should be noted for personal r= eading lists that "Lair of the Crystal Fange" is also available in a digita=
l book format (Kindle, $9.95).

Editorial Note: S. A. Sidor (https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/S-A-S= idor/170519260) is the author of four dark crime thrillers and more recentl=
y two splendid supernatural-pulp adventures, Fury From the Tomb and The Bea=
st of Nightfall Lodge.

Edge of Catastrophe
Jane Killick
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
c/o Simon & Schuster (distribution)
https://www.simonandschuster.com
9781839081613, $16.95, PB, 368pp

https://www.amazon.com/Edge-Catastrophe-Terraforming-Mars-Novel/dp/18390816=
19

Synopsis: In the 26th century, Mars is thriving: the huge crater made by th=
e crashed moon of Deimos is now a vast domed city, buzzing with industry an=
d a burgeoning Martian-born and immigrant workforce.

Ecoline scientist Mel Erdan is at the forefront of vital research to feed a=
nd maintain Mars' increasing population. But when her viral enhancer transf= orms lush green plants into a blackened swathe of dead crops, it triggers a=
wave of violent unrest across Deimos City, and Mel is accused of deliberat= ely sabotaging Mars' fragile viability.

With resources rapidly dwindling, conspiracy theories flying, and criminal = gangs rioting, Mel must prove her innocence, uncover the truth, and revital= ise Mars' harvest before it's too late -- for everyone!

Critique: Another riveting science fiction thriller from author Jane Killic=
k, "Edge of Catastrophe" is part of her 'Terraforming Mars' series. Origina=
l, riveting, and a terrific read from first page to last, "Edge of Catastro= phe" is especially recommended to the attention of all dedicated science fi= ction fans. While a popular addition to community library Science Fiction c= ollections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Edge of Cat= astrophe" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).

Editorial Note: Jane Killick (https://aconytebooks.com/?authors=3Djane-kill= ick) is an author and journalist who juggles working for BBC Radio with a l= ifelong passion for science fiction. Alongside several series of original S=
F novels, she has also written numerous behind the scenes books, including = Stasis Leaked Complete, a guide to TV show Red Dwarf, and a series on Babyl=
on 5.

Baen Books
www.baen.com

Two new arrivals from Baen Books provide sci-fi readers with seasoned write=
rs and compelling new productions.

https://www.amazon.com/Penrics-Labors-Lois-McMaster-Bujold/dp/1982192240

Lois McMaster Bujold's Penric's Labors (9781982192242, $25.00 provides thre=
e Penric and Desdemona adventures under one cover: Masquerade in Lodi, The = Orphans of Raspay, and The Physicians of Vilnoc. Each revolve around sorcer= ers, demons, and gods which test Penric and Desdemona in new ways, from car= ing for orphans seeking a vanished father to dealing with a plague that may=
only be solved by ancient medicine. Bujold's trademark brand of humor and = action permeate these tales, which represent space opera at its best.

https://www.amazon.com/1637-Transylvanian-Decision/dp/1982192232

Eric Flint again expands his 1637 series by working with Robert E. Waters o=
n The Transylvanian Decision (9781982192235, $25.00). Alternate history ent= husiasts who have enjoyed the many 1637 sagas of the past will find the sam=
e attention to drama and battles in this tale, which centers on the social,=
religious, and political battles involving the United States of Europe and=
the future of Eastern Europe as events in Transylvania heat up. The fast-p= aced action and story line provide complex, inviting scenarios that alterna=
te history readers will appreciate.

Both are recommended for sci-fi readers looking for established authors who=
se popularity is evident in patron interest.

Welcome to the Free World
Lloyd Raleigh
www.lloydraleigh.colm
PBS Press
9780578371368, $28.00, HC, 324pp

https://www.amazon.com/Welcome-Free-World-Lloyd-Raleigh/dp/0578371367

Synopsis: Will Robin does what no one should: pluck microchips from people'=
s heads.

In an age where AI has been fully integrated with human life, Will clearly = sees what everyone else doesn't; that it's a ploy for control and power. Wh=
at started out as using his skill to exercise his own free will quickly bec= ame a passion and a mission to free the world around him. Even if it's just=
one pluck at a time.

When the government gets wind of this, they target Will, and it sets off a = cascade of events that threatens to take the one thing that he values most:=
his freedom. But that won't be the only price he pays!

As Will's life spirals out of control and is consumed by mayhem, he must de=
al with ruthless government agents, cutthroat corporate assassins, and an A=
I named Aja who's willing to torture him into submission. Amid all this cha= os, the Earth is falling apart; and while their world burns, the people rev=
el in the metaverse as a brief escape. Water turns to dust, living becomes =
a struggle, and people claw at each other just to survive. Will knows that = everything is connected but proving that is hard and stopping it is even ha= rder.

Critique: "Welcome to the Free World" by Lloyd Raleigh is a deftly crafted = dystopian science fiction novel about a young man's hazarodus journey as he=
faces climate change, escapism, and oppression. In the same apocalyptic vi= sionary fiction as George Orwell's "1984", Raleigh's novel is a strikingly = memorable 'what if' extrapolation of technological and society trends of to= day. Unreservedly recommended for community and academic library Science Fi= ction collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of Pos= t-Apocalyptic/Dystopian fiction fans that "Welcome to the Free World" is al=
so available in a paperback edition (9798218088033, $14.99) and in a digita=
l book format (Kindle, $3.99).

Editorial Note: For novelist Lloyd Raleigh (https://nitter.1d4.us/Lloyd_Ral= eigh) the aftermath of 9/11, as well as the drastic impact of war, violence=
, and environmental breakdown he experienced during his travels, are major = contributions to the production of his debut novel, "Welcome to the Free Wo= rld". Through his work, he aims to entertain readers while also inspiring t= hem to take charge of not just their lives but also the future of the plane=
t they call home.

Throwing Shadows: A Dark Collection
Jerry Roth
Brigids Gate Press
https://brigidsgatepress.com
9781957537399, $11.99, PB, 156pp

https://www.amazon.com/Throwing-Shadows-Collection-Jerry-Roth/dp/1957537396

Synopsis: "Throwing Shadows: A Dark Collection" by Jerry Roth is comprised =
of original horror fantasy tales that include: A woman develops an unhealth=
y obsession with a scarecrow; A boy plays with a Ouija board and receives a=
terrifying warning of murder; A down-on-his-luck father learns what happen=
s when you die in your sleep. These stories and six more frightening tales = await the reader. "Throwing Shadows" is an impressive collection of short s= tories and in the words of the author they 'will feed that hungry dark side=
that lives in your cellar'.

Critique: Best read with the lights on, "Throwing Shadows: A Dark Collectio=
n" is a memorable haunting series of horrific short stories that will have =
a very special appeal for readers with an interest in Dark Fantasy fiction.=
Original, compelling, "Throwing Shadows: A Dark Collection" will linger in=
the mind and memory long after the book has been finished and set back upo=
n the shelf. While highly recommended for personal and community library Ho= rror Fantasy Fiction collections, it should be noted that "Throwing Shadows=
: A Dark Collection" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4= ..99).

Editorial Note: Jerry Roth (www.jerryrothauthor.com) is the author of "Bott=
om Feeders". He has written for Ohio newspapers and sports articles for the=
Disc Golf Pro Tour. His fiction career began as a screenwriter. After read= ing "The Stand" by Stephen King, he became passionate about creating his ow=
n work of fiction.

Flight of Fools
Sean Myers
Myers Freelance LLC
9798986019901, $15.99, PB, 472pp

https://www.amazon.com/Flight-Fools-Sean-Myers/dp/B0B49PRRSF

Synopsis: Brensin is back. His eyes on the throne, he is joined by Masothel= io, the wizard, Jin, the thief, Gullin, the bard, and Rainn. Together, they=
climb the mountain, evade the dragon, find the magical amulet, and come ba=
ck just in time for Brensin's assassination. The others scramble.

Betrayed, Masothelio submerges himself in a new role, swimming against the = current of the political tides. Branded, Gullin struggles to make a life fo=
r himself once again. Disadvantaged for so long, Jin helps her family out o=
f poverty, only to learn that she cannot escape her reality. Isolated, Rain=
n escapes into a make-believe world made just for him, where he can be happ=
y and powerless.

"Flight of Fools" blurs the lines between what is fantasy and what is real.=
It pokes holes in the page until there is nothing left to keep the real wo= rld from seeping in, and nothing left to stop the ending from reaching out = through the page to clutch your chest and squeeze.

Critique: A fun political satire about escapism (that is especially timely = for today's hyperpolarized America where politics determine facts), "Flight=
of Fools" by Sean Myers is a fantasy about reality and will have an immens=
e appeal for readers with an interest in magical realism and humorous/satir= ical fantasy fiction. While unreservedly recommended for community library = Science Fiction & Fantasy collections, it should be noted for personal read= ing lists that "Flight of Fools" is also available in a digital book format=
(Kindle, $3.99).

Editorial Note: Sean Myers is a freelance legal writer with a keen sense of=
the humor in life. (https://medium.com/about-me-stories/about-me-sean-myer= s-ffdb674a47be)

Percivious: Escape
J. J. Cook, author
A. J. Cook, author
Aj Jj Publishing
9781777377472, $25.95, HC, 276pp

https://www.amazon.com/Percivious-Escape-J-Cook/dp/1777377471

Synopsis: A vicious insomnia pandemic devolves into a devastating apocalyps=
e, and humanity teeters on the brink of extinction in "Percivious: Escape "=
, the thrilling final installment of the Percivious Trilogy by co-authors J=
.. J. Cook and A. J. Cook.

Emerging from the dark side of the moon, the HELIX and its crew embark on a=
desperate effort to save the last of their species-and ours.

An unexpected alliance forms between humans and the XYZ-Earth's first intel= ligent hominid species-to stop the pandemic once and for all. But when unfo= reseen forces surface, Herriden, captain of the HELIX-which carries the las=
t of the cetacean XYZs-must make an unfathomable choice, if it's not alread=
y too late...

"Percivious: Escape" is an astonishing conclusion to the Percivious Trilogy=
, in which life as we know it will never be the same.

Critique: Along with the first two novels in co-authors J. J. Cooks and A. =
J. Cook's deftly crafted Percivious Trilogy ("Percivious: Insomnia" and "Pe= rcivious: Origins", "Percivious: Escape" is an inherently interesting and o= riginal story that will have a special appeal to readers with an interest i=
n Post-Apocalyptic, Evolutionary, and Colonization science fiction novels. = While all three titles in this outstanding series are unreservedly recommen= ded for community library Science Fiction collections, it should be noted f=
or the personal reading lists each of these three novels are also available=
in a paperback edition ($12.95) and in a digital book format ($2.99).

Editorial Note #1: J. J. Cook (https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/j-j-cook) =
is a pseudonym for a married couple who write mysteries, mostly set in the = South, with a touch of paranormal and romance. Together, they are the autho=
rs of the Biscuit Bowl Food Truck Mysteries and the Sweet Pepper Fire Briga=
de Mysteries.

Baen Books
www.baen.com

Two new Science Fiction titles from Baen Books are especially and unreserve= dly recommended for community library collections and the personal reading = lists of all dedicates science fiction fans:

https://www.amazon.com/Dabare-Snake-Launcher-Joelle-Presby/dp/1982192259

Joelle Presby's The Dabare Snake Launcher (9781982192259, $17.00) is a hard=
sci-fi novel about Earth's attempt to build the first space elevator. Set =
in Africa and spiced with family drama, political conflict, scientific chal= lenge, and a new futuristic vision of "out of Africa" potentials, The Dabar=
e Snake Launcher excels in unpredictable changes and spicy dialogue that is=
captivatingly different: "Nice rant." Adamou saluted the comm screen. "But=
I give you about six months confined in a vilal with your relatives before=
you steal the silver spoons and start hitchhiking to freedom." Readers see= king something quite different in the realm of hard sci-fi (an endangered s= pecies in the genre, these days) will find the story delightfully original.

https://www.amazon.com/Trinitys-Children-Dave-Bara/dp/1982192119

Dave Bara's Trinity's Children (9781982192112, $16.00) provides a vivid fut= uristic tale about a hard-drinking former military man whose career was sun=
k by the Rim rebellion. A new chance to command the first faster-than-light=
vessel to Trinity, a newly discovered star system, would seem to hold the = opportunity for redemption, but a new war is brewing that can lead the good=
Captain Clement to either finally realize his career, or his future. Both = are involving, unique stories recommended for discriminating sci-fi readers=
..

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo= ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
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for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

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